Bolton adds Tigers fairest and best to Simpson, Sandover Medals

JYE Bolton’s remarkable first season in the WAFL with Claremont has concluded with the star midfielder claiming the Tigers’ fairest and best award to add to the Sandover and Simpson Medals he already received in 2016.

Bolton claimed the EB Cook Medal as Claremont’s fairest and best player for 2016 to cap an outstanding first season in the WAFL having crossed from Werribee in the VFL.

But he wasn’t the only reason for Claremont to celebrate the season at the awards night on Friday with the Tigers’ reserves and colts having both won premierships in 2016 with each team defeating East Perth in the Grand Finals at Domain Stadium almost a fortnight ago.

From those premiership winning teams, Gerrick Weedon and Jacob Sideris claimed the respective fairest and best awards for the reserves and colts teams.

Claremont’s league side might have missed out on playing finals in 2016, but some luck in 10 tight losses could have easily seen that change for the Tigers.

Coach Michael Broadbridge had a talented squad at his disposal before stepping down after three years at the helm with West Perth premiership captain and coach Darren Harris now taking over from 2017 onwards.

Bolton was the standout player in the WAFL throughout 2016 with the 24-year-old making the move west having most recently played in the VFL with Werribee.

After sitting out most of 2015 with a foot injury, he had an immediate impact on the WAFL showing that his hard running style of play in the midfield was suited perfectly to the WA grounds.

Right throughout the season he went on to average 29.1 possessions a game and got even better in the back end of the year averaging 35.3 disposals in the past seven games.